S. A. Hemanth
Bengaluru, March 29: The Muslim reservation issue never shows signs of dying down.
After the BJP government scrapped 4 percent reservation to Muslims, the Congress party vowed to restore the arrangement. Now, it is the JDS which has announced that it will bring back 4 percent reservation to Muslims if voted to power.
By scrapping 4 percent reservation to Muslims and distributing it to Lingayaths and Vokkaligas (2 percent each), the BJP has tried to endear itself to both the dominant communities.
Now, Congress and JDS are vying with each other for Muslim votes. What makes these two parties so desperate for Muslim votes?
Muslims tend to vote enmass; their support is solid; they also tend to vote at one place; their votes are dependable.
All that the Muslims look at before voting is whether the party whom they choose is capable of defeating BJP. If they feel in some constituencies JDS is capable of defeating BJP, they opt for JDS. Otherwise, they are traditionally Congress voters.
However, after the abolition of triple talaaq, there is a qualitative transformation among the Muslims, especially young women. It is possible they may tilt towards BJP, in a very small way.
But on the whole the Muslims vote the Congress and they vote enmass. It is for this reason both Congress and JDS are making repeated attempts to wean Muslims to their side.
The scrapping of four percent Muslim reservation has come in handy for both these parties to endear themselves to the minority community.
It is a matter of curiosity as to whom will the Muslims support in the coming elections.
EOM
